MTT Cell Proliferation Assay

Catalog No. 30-1010K    (2500 reactions)

Features
Background
Comparison of the XTT and MTT Cell Proliferation Assays
Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering
Product Instruction Manual

 

The ATCC MTT Cell Proliferation Assay offers a quantitative, convenient method for evaluating a cell population's response to external factors, whether it be an increase in cell growth, no effect, or a decrease in growth due to necrosis or apoptosis.

Features

  • Proven technology. The utility of the MTT method has been documented in the literature for many different applications.
  • Accurate measurements. The spectrophotometric procedure can detect slight changes in cell metabolism, making it much more sensitive than trypan blue staining.
  • Safer reagents. There's no need to store or manipulate radioactive substances.
  • Easy to use. The procedure is relatively simple and uses equipment already available in most labs.
  • Rapid processing. Assays are run in a 96-well plate and read with a microtitre plate reader, allowing high-throughput handling of samples.
  • Convenient storage. The kit is stable for 18 months when stored under refrigeration in the dark.

Background

The measurement of cell viability and growth is a valuable tool in a wide range of research areas. Several approaches have been used in the past. Trypan blue staining is a simple way to evaluate cell membrane integrity (and thus assume cell proliferation or death) but the method is not sensitive and cannot be adapted for high-throughput screening. Measuring the uptake of radioactive substances, usually tritium-labeled thymidine, is accurate but it is also time-consuming and involves handling of radioactive substances.

The reduction of tetrazolium salts is now recognized as a safe, accurate alternative to radiometric testing. The yellow tetrazolium salt (MTT) is reduced in metabolically active cells to form insoluble purple formazan crystals, which are solubilized by the addition of a detergent. The color can then be quantified by spectrophotometric means. For each cell type a linear relationship between cell number and absorbance is established, enabling accurate, straightforward quantification of changes in proliferation. Among the applications for the method are drug sensitivity, cytotoxicity, response to growth factors, and cell activation.

References
van de Loosdrecht, A.A., et al. J. Immunol. Methods 174: 311-320, 1994.
Ohno, M., and T. Abe. J. Immunol. Methods 145:199-203, 1991.
Ferrari, M., et al. J. Immunol. Methods 131: 165-172, 1990.
Alley, M.C., et al. Cancer Res. 48: 589-601, 1988.
Carmichael, J., et al. Cancer Res. 47:936-42, 1987.
Gerlier, D., and N. Thomasset. J. Immunol. Methods 94: 57-63, 1986.
Mosmann, T. J. Immunol. Methods 65: 55-63, 1983.


Frequently Asked Questions

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Ordering

You can order the MTT Cell Proliferation Assay from our online catalog if you have an ATCC account. Or call 800-638-6597 in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico or 703-365-2700 elsewhere. Customers in Europe, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Macau, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan, R.O.C. must order from our official distributors.

This product is intended for research purposes only. It is not intended for use in humans.